Nasdaq Hits Record High, US Stocks Post Weekly Gains Ahead Fed Rate Cut

The U.S. stock market experienced a mixed session on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite reaching a fresh record high driven by gains in technology stocks such as Microsoft and Tesla. Investors are cautiously awaiting the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy meeting, where a 25 basis point rate cut is widely expected to address slowing job growth and easing inflation concerns. Despite declines in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, all three major indexes—the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq—closed the week with solid gains, reflecting optimism about the Fed's rate cut. Consumer sentiment showed a decline, adding to the cautious investor sentiment ahead of the Fed meeting. Other market highlights include strong performances from Warner Bros. Discovery and Adobe, while some stocks like RH faced setbacks due to weaker outlooks. Treasury yields and oil prices rose amid global economic tensions, while gold maintained its status as a safe haven amid the mixed market environment.